Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFSCO1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFSCO1’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems with numerous inflorescences; relatively small decorative pompon-type inflorescences with bright green to white-colored ray florets; and excellent postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum x morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFSCO1’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Chrysanthemum Plants

Applicant: Arie Gerard Post

Provisional application Ser. No. 62/761,600

Filed: Mar. 30, 2018

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium,commercially grown as a cut flower and hereinafter referred to by thename ‘DLFSCO1’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new freely-flowering cut Chrysanthemumplants with attractive inflorescences, strong flowering stems andexcellent postproduction longevity.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination on Feb.9, 2012 of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifoliumidentified as code number DB 13579 as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as codenumber DB 11343 as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemumplant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Aug. 20, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings since Aug. 20, 2014 has shown that the unique featuresof this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to typein successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DLFSCO1’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DLFSCO1’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemumplant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit.    -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Strong upright flowering stems with numerous inflorescences.    -   5. Relatively small decorative pompon-type inflorescences with        bright green to white-colored ray florets.    -   6. Excellent postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the female parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are straight        whereas ray florets of plants of the female parent selection are        reflexed.    -   2. Fully opened ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum        are white in color whereas ray florets of plants of the female        parent selection are light yellow green in color.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger inflorescences        than plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Fully opened ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum        are white in color whereas ray florets of plants of the male        parent selection are light yellow in color.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants ofChrysanthemum x morifolium ‘DLFOLGNE’, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plantsof ‘DLFOLGNE’ in flowering habit as plants of the new Chrysanthemum arenot as freely flowering as plants of ‘DLFOLGNE’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Chrysanthemum plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of atypical flowering stem of ‘DLFSCO1’ grown as a spray-type.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises close-up views of the lower(top of the photographic sheet) and upper surfaces (bottom of thephotographic sheet) of typical inflorescences and leaves of ‘DLFSCO1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the winter in ground beds in aglass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under culturalpractices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plantswere initially given long day/short night treatments followed by shortday/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C.to 22° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C. and lightlevels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem plants and werenine weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. Inthe following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘DLFSCO1’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code designation DB            13579, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code designation DB            11343, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at            temperatures about 24° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at            temperatures about 22° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About twelve            days at temperatures about 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About two            weeks at temperatures about 22° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically creamy white in            color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous pompon-type cut flower            that is typically grown as a single stem spray-type; upright            plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 77.2            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence            plane.—About 81.2 cm.        -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 20.9 cm.        -   Flowering stem length.—About 71.6 cm.        -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 6 mm.        -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 2.7 cm.        -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.        -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.        -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Sparsely to moderately            pubescent; slightly glossy.        -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to 144B, at the            internodes, close to 144A.        -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 144A and 146D.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 11.7 cm. Width: About 6.8 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:            Short apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed,            coarsely crenate; sinuses convergent and medium to deep in            depth. Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately            pubescent, not rugose; moderately velvety; very slightly            glossy. Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately            pubescent, prominent venation; slightly velvety; matte.            Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Color: Developing            leaves, upper surface: Close to 137B. Developing leaves,            lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully developed leaves, upper            surface: Close to NN137A; venation, close to 146B to 146C.            Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;            venation, close to 146B to 146C. Petioles: Length: About            1.8 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm by 3 mm. Strength: Moderately            strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface:            Close to 146B; edges, close to NN137B. Color, lower surface:            Close to 146C; edges, close to 137A. Stipules: Quantity and            appearance: Two leafy stipules, opposite, at the petiole            attachment to the stem. Length: About 5 mm. Width: About            7 mm. Shape: Flabellate. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Moderately pubescent; very slightly glossy. Color,            upper surface: Close to NN137A. Color, lower surface: Close            to 147B.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Pompon-type (decorative) inflorescence form with            obovate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets (disc            florets are inconspicuous); inflorescences borne            perpendicular to peduncles and face mostly upright to            slightly outwardly; ray and disc florets develop acropetally            on a capitulum.        -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower            in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other            times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development            can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at            least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and            short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long            day/short night conditions after planting followed by            photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about            50 days later when grown as a spray-type.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity; in            an interior environment, inflorescences and foliage will            maintain good color and substance for about two weeks;            inflorescences persistent.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit; when            grown as a spray-type, about 20 inflorescences develop per            flowering stem.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 4.6 cm. Depth (height):            About 2.3 cm. Disc diameter: About 2 mm.        -   Receptacles.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 6 mm.            Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145B.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 9 mm. Diameter: About            1.4 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Texture and luster:            Distally, smooth and glabrous; proximally, moderately            pubescent; very slightly glossy. Color: Distally, close to            145B to 145C and at the apex, close to 144C (immature ray            florets); proximally, close to 137B.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 240 arranged in            about eight whorls. Length: About 1.8 cm. Width: About 9 mm.            Shape: Obovate; concave, slightly carinate. Apex: Broadly            acute to shallowly emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Entire; not undulate. Aspect: Initially upright to about 90°            from vertical. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; moderately velvety; matte. Texture and luster,            lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety;            slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface:            Initially, close to 145B to 145C and at the apex, close to            144C, then close to 157D; towards the base, close to 145B.            When opening, lower surface: Initially, close to 145B to            145C and at the apex, close to 144C, then close to 157C;            towards the base, close to 145B. Fully opened, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to NN155D; towards the base, close to            145B; venation, close to NN155D, color does not change with            development.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About five spirally            arranged in one or two whorls at the center of the            receptacle; disc florets inconspicuous. Length: About 5 mm.            Diameter: About 1.25 mm. Shape: Lower 75% fused into a tube;            upper 25% free. Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture and luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; glossy. Color, when opening, inner and outer            surfaces: Apex: Close to N144B. Mid-section: Close to 13A to            13B. Base: Close to 145C. Color, fully opened, inner and            outer surfaces: Apex: Close to 154C. Mid-section: Close to            13B to 13C. Base: Close to 145C.        -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 20            arranged in two whorls. Length: About 1 cm. Width: About            4 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Densely            pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 143A;            margins, translucent, and close to 145D; apices, close to            N199A. Color, lower surface: Close to 137C; margins,            translucent, close to 145D; apices, close to N199A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 7.5 cm.            Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 2 mm. Length, third            peduncle: About 8.1 cm. Diameter, terminal peduncle: About            2 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Mostly            upright. Aspect, third peduncle: About 35° from the            flowering stem axis. Texture and luster: Moderately            pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 143A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:            About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther size:            About 0.5 mm by 2 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther            color: Close to 12B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:            Close to 14B. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc            florets. Quantity: One per floret. Pistil length: About            5 mm. Style length: About 4.5 mm. Style color: Close to            N144B. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft,            decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 151D. Ovary color: Close            to 145C.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have            not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have    been observed to be resistant to Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium    oxysporum f. sp. chrysanthemi). To date, resistance to pests and    other pathogens common to Chrysanthemum plants has not been observed    on plants of the new Chrysanthemum grown under commercial    conditions.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to    35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFSCO1’as illustrated and described.